Republicans in Mass. Senate race debate abortion, Social Security

March 27, 2013|Reuters

By Scott Malone

NEEDHAM, Mass., March 27 (Reuters) - The three Republicansseeking to fill Massachusetts' open seat in the U.S. Senatesparred over social issues on Wednesday, staking out opposingviews on abortion and social programs in the first debate tofeature candidates from both parties.

The Republican front-runner Michael Sullivan, a former U.S.Attorney in Boston, was the sole candidate from his party to sayhe opposed abortion while rivals Daniel Winslow, a staterepresentative, and Gabriel Gomez, a private equity executive,said they supported abortion rights.

"As a nation we respect life and I'll do whatever I can toprotect life," said Sullivan.

On social programs and the budget, Gomez stood out, sayingthat the government should apply a means-testing approach todetermine who draws Social Security benefits.

"It's not a welfare program; it's an insurance program,"Winslow said of Social Security.

The hourlong debate was divided into two halves, with theRepublicans going first, followed by the Democratic contenders.

Polls have shown Democratic Representative Edward Markeywith an overall lead for both the April 30 primary and the June25 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Secretaryof State John Kerry.

On the Republican side, Sullivan is the frontrunner, thoughpolls show him trailing Markey in a general-election matchup.

Markey's primary rival is fellow Congressman Stephen Lynch.

A Republican victory could boost that party's effort to takea majority in the Senate in 2014, when one-third of the chamberis up for re-election. Currently the Republicans have 45 Senateseats, the Democrats 53 and there are two independents.

Massachusetts' Democratic Governor Deval Patrick in Januarynamed his former chief of staff, William "Mo" Cowan to serve asinterim senator until the election. Cowan is not running in thespecial election.